Introduction to React
A workshop for COMP 523
Aaron Smith
Monday, Feb. 10, 2020
What is React?
• React is a JavaScript framework
• Used for front end web development
• Think of jQuery, but more structured
• Created and used by Facebook
• Famous for implementing a virtual dom
Timeline of front-end JavaScript frameworks
jQuery*
(2006)
AngularJS
(2010)
React
(2013)
Vue
(2014)
Angular
(2014)
* jQuery is more often considered a library than a framework
Common tasks in front-end development
Data definition, organization, and storage
App state
Event handlers respond to user actions
User actions
Design and render HTML templates
Templates
Resolve URLs
Routing
Interact with server(s) through APIs and AJAX
Data fetching
Fundamentals of React
1. JavaScript and HTML in the same file (JSX)
2. Embrace functional programming
3. Components everywhere
JavaScript and HTML in the same file
Traditional
approach
React
approach
HTML CSS JS JSX CSS or JSS
JSX: the React programming language
const first = "Aaron";
const last = "Smith";
const name = <span>{first} {last}</span>;
const listWithTitle = (
<>
<h1>COMP 523</h1>
<ul>
<li>Dr. David Stotts</li>
<li>{name}</li>
</ul>
</>
);
const list = (
<ul>
<li>Dr. David Stotts</li>
<li>{name}</li>
</ul>
);
“React is just JavaScript”
Functional programming
1. Functions are “first class citizens”
2. Variables are immutable
3. Functions have no side effects
Functional programming
Functions are “first class citizens”
let add = function() {
console.log('Now adding numbers');
const five = 3 + 2;
};
function performTask(task) {
task();
console.log('Task performed!');
}
performTask(add);
function foo() {
return function() {
console.log('What gets printed?');
};
}
foo
foo();
foo()();
Functional programming
Variables are immutable
let a = 4;
a = 2; // Mutates `a`
let b = [1, 2, 3];
b.push(4); // Mutates `b`
let c = [...b, 4]; // Does not mutate `b`
Functional programming
Functions have no side effects
const b = [];
function hasSideEffects() {
b = [0];
}
Components
Components are functions for user interfaces
let y = f(x);
Input x Output number
let y = <FancyDiv value={x} />;
Input x Output HTML
Math function:
Component function:
Anatomy of a React component
export default function MyComponent(props) {
return <div>Hello, world! My name is {props.name}</div>;
}
const html = <MyComponent name="aaron" />;
Inputs are passed through a
single argument called “props”
The function is executed as if
it was an HTML tag
The function
outputs HTML
The component is just
a function
Parameters are passed in
as HTML attributes
Component rendering
• When a component function executes, we say it “renders”
• Assume components may re-render at any time
Our job is to ensure that
every time the component re-renders,
the correct output is produced
“In React, everything is a component”
Todo application
Title
TodoForm
TodoList
Todo
Big idea:
ď‚§ A digital to-do list
First step:
ď‚§ mockup / wireframe
Creating a new React app
Creating a new React app is simple!
1. Install Node.js
2. Run: npx create-react-app app-name
3. New app created in folder: ./app-name
Anatomy of a new React app
App is a boilerplate
starter component
public holds the initial html
document and other static assets
package.json configures
npm dependencies
index.js binds
React to the DOM
Component Hierarchy
Title
TodoForm
TodoList
Todo
Title TodoForm
TodoList
Todo Todo Todo
App
Special list key property
• Situation: Display a dynamic array of elements
• Must specify a special “key” property for each element
• The key of an item uniquely identifies it
• Used by React internally for render optimization
• Can be any unique value (string or number)
What are hooks?
useState
useEffect
useReducer
useMemo
useRef
useCallback
We will cover
these today
We will not cover
these today
Built-in hooks:
Hooks: Special functions that allow
developers to hook into state and
lifecycle of React components.
State: One or more data values
associated with a React component
instance.
Lifecycle: The events associated with a
React component instance (create,
render, destroy, etc).
First React hook: useState
Purpose:
1. Remember values internally when the component re-renders
2. Tell React to re-render the component when the value changes
Syntax:
const [val, setVal] = useState(100);
The current value A setter function to
change the value
The initial
value to use
Predicting component re-rendering
A component will only re-render when…
1. A value inside props changes
2. A useState setter is called
– or –
Second React hook: useEffect
Purpose:
Act as an observer, running code in response to value changes
Syntax:
useEffect(() => {
console.log(`myValue was changed! New value: ${myValue}`);
}, [myValue]);
A list of values such that changes
should trigger this code to run
The code to run when
values change
Building a React project
• When you’re ready to launch your app, run this command:
npm run build
• This bundles your app into CSS/JS/HTML files and puts them in the
/build folder
• These files can be served from an AWS S3 bucket
3rd party components and libraries
• React-Router
• Redux
• Material-UI
• Bootstrap
• Font-Awesome
• SWR

react-slides.pdf gives information about react library

  • 1.
    Introduction to React Aworkshop for COMP 523 Aaron Smith Monday, Feb. 10, 2020
  • 2.
    What is React? •React is a JavaScript framework • Used for front end web development • Think of jQuery, but more structured • Created and used by Facebook • Famous for implementing a virtual dom
  • 3.
    Timeline of front-endJavaScript frameworks jQuery* (2006) AngularJS (2010) React (2013) Vue (2014) Angular (2014) * jQuery is more often considered a library than a framework
  • 4.
    Common tasks infront-end development Data definition, organization, and storage App state Event handlers respond to user actions User actions Design and render HTML templates Templates Resolve URLs Routing Interact with server(s) through APIs and AJAX Data fetching
  • 5.
    Fundamentals of React 1.JavaScript and HTML in the same file (JSX) 2. Embrace functional programming 3. Components everywhere
  • 6.
    JavaScript and HTMLin the same file Traditional approach React approach HTML CSS JS JSX CSS or JSS
  • 7.
    JSX: the Reactprogramming language const first = "Aaron"; const last = "Smith"; const name = <span>{first} {last}</span>; const listWithTitle = ( <> <h1>COMP 523</h1> <ul> <li>Dr. David Stotts</li> <li>{name}</li> </ul> </> ); const list = ( <ul> <li>Dr. David Stotts</li> <li>{name}</li> </ul> );
  • 8.
    “React is justJavaScript”
  • 9.
    Functional programming 1. Functionsare “first class citizens” 2. Variables are immutable 3. Functions have no side effects
  • 10.
    Functional programming Functions are“first class citizens” let add = function() { console.log('Now adding numbers'); const five = 3 + 2; }; function performTask(task) { task(); console.log('Task performed!'); } performTask(add); function foo() { return function() { console.log('What gets printed?'); }; } foo foo(); foo()();
  • 11.
    Functional programming Variables areimmutable let a = 4; a = 2; // Mutates `a` let b = [1, 2, 3]; b.push(4); // Mutates `b` let c = [...b, 4]; // Does not mutate `b`
  • 12.
    Functional programming Functions haveno side effects const b = []; function hasSideEffects() { b = [0]; }
  • 13.
    Components Components are functionsfor user interfaces let y = f(x); Input x Output number let y = <FancyDiv value={x} />; Input x Output HTML Math function: Component function:
  • 14.
    Anatomy of aReact component export default function MyComponent(props) { return <div>Hello, world! My name is {props.name}</div>; } const html = <MyComponent name="aaron" />; Inputs are passed through a single argument called “props” The function is executed as if it was an HTML tag The function outputs HTML The component is just a function Parameters are passed in as HTML attributes
  • 15.
    Component rendering • Whena component function executes, we say it “renders” • Assume components may re-render at any time Our job is to ensure that every time the component re-renders, the correct output is produced
  • 16.
    “In React, everythingis a component”
  • 17.
    Todo application Title TodoForm TodoList Todo Big idea: ď‚§A digital to-do list First step: ď‚§ mockup / wireframe
  • 18.
    Creating a newReact app Creating a new React app is simple! 1. Install Node.js 2. Run: npx create-react-app app-name 3. New app created in folder: ./app-name
  • 19.
    Anatomy of anew React app App is a boilerplate starter component public holds the initial html document and other static assets package.json configures npm dependencies index.js binds React to the DOM
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Special list keyproperty • Situation: Display a dynamic array of elements • Must specify a special “key” property for each element • The key of an item uniquely identifies it • Used by React internally for render optimization • Can be any unique value (string or number)
  • 22.
    What are hooks? useState useEffect useReducer useMemo useRef useCallback Wewill cover these today We will not cover these today Built-in hooks: Hooks: Special functions that allow developers to hook into state and lifecycle of React components. State: One or more data values associated with a React component instance. Lifecycle: The events associated with a React component instance (create, render, destroy, etc).
  • 23.
    First React hook:useState Purpose: 1. Remember values internally when the component re-renders 2. Tell React to re-render the component when the value changes Syntax: const [val, setVal] = useState(100); The current value A setter function to change the value The initial value to use
  • 24.
    Predicting component re-rendering Acomponent will only re-render when… 1. A value inside props changes 2. A useState setter is called – or –
  • 25.
    Second React hook:useEffect Purpose: Act as an observer, running code in response to value changes Syntax: useEffect(() => { console.log(`myValue was changed! New value: ${myValue}`); }, [myValue]); A list of values such that changes should trigger this code to run The code to run when values change
  • 26.
    Building a Reactproject • When you’re ready to launch your app, run this command: npm run build • This bundles your app into CSS/JS/HTML files and puts them in the /build folder • These files can be served from an AWS S3 bucket
  • 27.
    3rd party componentsand libraries • React-Router • Redux • Material-UI • Bootstrap • Font-Awesome • SWR